Resilient support



A ri 25, 1944.

A. N. HALE RESILIENT SUPPORT Filed Sept. 12, 1942 Git/wt f7. HaLe 1 2,2. N. Cw

Patented Apr. 25, 1944 NT OFFICE RESILIENT SUPPDRT Arthur N. Hale, Bridgeport, :Conn., assignor to The Singer Manufacturing Company, Elizabeth, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application September 12, 1942, Serial No. 458,089

9 Claims. (o1. 112-253) This invention relates to sewing machines and particularly to devices for resiliently supporting a sewing machine upon a table and within an opening provided therefore in the top of said table.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a simple, rugged mounting unit which, together with one or more similar units similarly arranged, provide adequate support for the static load imposed by a sewing machine while at the same time absorbing to a large extent the vibrations setup within the sewing machine by the operation of the mechanism thereof.

In modern high-speed sewing machines the vibratory forces set up at the top sewing speeds re quired for maximum production are considerable in spite of careful dynamic balancing and it is important that such forces be isolated from the structure supporting said machines to prevent noise amplification and discomfort and fatigue of the operator.

Sewing machines are customarily mounted with the underbed parts let down into a well in a table so that the top of the work plate is substantially flush with or slightly above the table top. It is important in this connection that the supporting means permit the machine to have a minimum side sway to prevent contact between anyof its parts and the table, which contact would destroy the desirable vibration-isolating qualities ofthe present supporting means.

A further object of this invention is, therefore, to'provide a supporting means for a sewing machine which includes means for properly centermg said machine within the table-well and which ha sufficient restraint against lateral displacement to prevent excessive amplitude of motion in this direction due to the vibrations set up within the sewing machine. i

With the above and other objects in View, as will hereinafter appear, the invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawing of a preferred embodiment of the invention, from which theseveral features of the invention and the advantages attained thereby will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. i H

Inthe drawing, I a r Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a sewingmachlne mounted within a table-well on=supporting means embodying the invention.

'- Fig. 2. is an enlarged top plan view of one corner of the table of Fig. 1 showing an improved mounthis unit embodying the invention.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section, partly in elevation, taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a disassembled perspective view of the improved mounting unit.

' Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is shown in Fig. 1 a sewing machine having an overhanging arm I supported on a bed 2 which is positioned within a well 3 in a supporting table 5. The edge of the well 3 is formed with a peripheral ledge B which is positioned below the top surface of the table 5 and is laterally broadened across the corners of said well to form web portions 1. Cylindrical apertures 8, vertically disposed and positioned at each of the corners'of the well penetrate the table; a portion of each corner aperture extending through a respective web portion. 'The apertures 8 receive mounting units 9 and 9 which are secured therein by means of screws II! as shown clearly in Fig. 3. Unit 9 differs from the other unit 9 only in having part of a flange portion cut away to avoid encroachment on the belt-clearance aperture 5' in the table top 5.

The mounting units 9 and 9' each comprise an outer tubular casing H having 'a flanged end portion l2 from which an arcuate portion is notched or cut away to provide a lateral opening which conforms to the edge portions of "the well 3 and provides clearance for a respective corner of the machine bed '2 so that it may be let down into the well 3. The end of said tube H opposite the fianged end is counterbored to form an internal peripheral shoulder 13. i A cylindrical sleeve I 4 is slidably disposed within the counterbored portion and may be secured therein by means of the screw i5 which passes through an aperture iii in the tube H and is threaded into the internal sleeve [4.

A generally cylindrical resilient element ll, made preferably of rubber or of similar suitably resilient material but which may also be an equivalent helical spring, is gripped at its outer peripheral edge between the shoulder l3 and the internal sleeve [4 as shown best in Fig. 3, and is formed preferably with an axial cylindrical socket or well [8. Disposed within said socket I8 is a stud it! formed with a flat-head portion 29 and a split shank-portion 2| which extends nearly to the bottom of the socket. The top surface of the fiat head portion 20 of the stud I 9 provides a supporting surface against-.which rests a corner'of the-machine bed which corner is provided with a finished surface 26. A corner block 22 is formed with an inclined face portion 23 which conforms to the corner radius of the machine-bed 2 and is guiding surface which facilitates the proper seat-- ing of the machine bed within the well.

A quick and easy assembly is provided by the few simple parts and fastening means comprising the mounting unit. It is, for example, an easy manipulation to remove the screw 15 and the simple molded product. The split shank portion 2| of the stud l9 provides opposed prongs which may be sprung' 'apa'rt' slightly to provide a snug fit between .said shank'portion and the inside walls of the socket I8 in resilient element l'l, whereby to insure that the stud l3 will be restrained against lateral displacement at all times. I have found that the outer casing combined with the inner stud element provides a mechanical shield for the sensitive resilient element whereby to protect it against damage from the accidental intrusion of external instruments. It is clear that the mounting unit according to the invention is adaptable without any modification for use on tables of different thicknesses. That is to say, this mounting unit holds the top of a given machine bed at a constant 'andproper elevation relative to the table top regardless of the table thickness. I

:The weight of the sewing machine is carried directly by the stud l9 and is transmitted through the head portion thereof to the resilient element H which cushions the load and passes it on to the table.

.A ledge 21, formed on the cylindrical tube II by the cut-away portion hereinabove' mentioned, provides an emergency'stop or abutment against which each corner of the machine bed may rest for support in case of failure of'the resilient element I! to sustain the'load.

From the foregoing description it will beperceived that I have provided a compact rugged mounting unit comprising an inexpensive resilient element confined by readily separable parts one of which is'adjustable, including the provision for easy replacementof the resilient element.

The adjustability imripheral shoulder, a sleeve element slidably disposed within said tubular casing at the end thereof remote from the notched end and removably secured thereto to hold said resilient element against said peripheral shoulder, and a stud element carried by said resilient element and formed with a fiat head portion providing a platform supporting surface for receiving a corner portion of the bed of a sewing machine through the lateral opening provided by said notched portion of the casing.

2. A resilient support for use with other similar units to mount the bed of a sewing machine erect position and formed with a lateral opening atone end and with an inner peripheral shoulsleeve M in order to replace the resilient element Y H which may itself be a relatively inexpensive,

'It will be obvious .to those skilled in the art that the invention may, without departure from its essential attributes, be embodied in various specific forms other than that shown and described, which latter is to be considered in all respects as illustrative of the invention and not restrictive; reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is: a

1. A resilient support for use with other similar units to mount the bed of a sewing machine on a supporting table, comprising a tubular casing adapted to be secured to a table and formed with a notched portion providing a lateral opening at one end of said casing and with an inner peripheral shoulder disposed intermediate the ends thereof, a resilient element having a peripheral edge portion disposed against said inner poder disposed intermediate the ends thereof, a resilient element formed with an axial well and having a peripheral edge portion conforming to and disposed against said inner peripheral shoulder, a sleeve element slidably disposed within said tubular casing at the end thereof remote from said lateral opening and removably secured thereto to hold the peripheral edge portion of said resilient element confined against said peripheral shoulder, and a stud element having a shank portion disposed within the well in said resilient element and formed with a flat head portion providing a platform supporting surface for receiving the bed of a sewing machine through the lateral opening in said casing.

3. A resilient support for use with other similar units to mount the bed of a sewing machine on a supporting table, comprising a tubular casing adapted to be secured to a table and formed with an inner peripheral shoulder, a resilient element having a peripheral edge portion conforming to and disposed against said inner peripheral shoulder, a sleeve element slidably disposed within said tubular casing and removably secured thereto to'hold the peripheral edge portion of said resilient element confined against said peripheral shoulder, a stud element carried by said resilient element and formed with a fiat head portion providing a platform supporting surface for receiving the bed of a sewing machine, and a corner block adjustably secured to said flat head portion for positioning the bed on said supporting surface.

4. A resilient support for use with other similar units to mount thebed of a sewing machine on a supporting table, comprising a tubular cas ing adapted to be secured to a table in an axially erect position and formed with a lateral opening at one end and with an inner peripheral shoulder intermediate the ends thereof, a substantially cylindrical resilient element formed with an axial socket and having a peripheral edge portion conforming to and axially disposed against said inner peripheral shoulder, a sleeve, element slidably disposed within said tubular casing at the end thereof remote from said lateral opening and removably secured thereto to hold the peripheral edge portion of said resilient, element confined against said peripheral shoulder, a stud element having a shank portion disposed within the socket in said resilient element and formed with a flat head portion providing a platform supporting surface for receiving a corner portion of the bed of a sewing machine through the lateral opening in said casing, and a corner block adjustably see cured to said fiat head portion for positioning the corner portion on said supporting surface.

5. A machine support comprising separable elements including an outer casing, a resilient element disposed within and secured to said casing, an inner platform element removably secured in said resilient element and having a. substantially horizontal plane surface and a machine positioning block 'adjustably mounted on the plane surface of said platform element.

6. A machine support comprising an outer casing formed with an internal shoulder, resilient means seated upon said shoulder, a platform carried by said resilient means and providing a substantially horizontal plane supporting surface, and a block adjustably secured upon said platform andhaving a concave machine-engaging sidewall inclined upwardly and outwardly from the bottom of the block for the positioning upon said platform of a portion of the machine to be supported.

7. A machine support comprising an outer casing formed with an internal shoulder, resilient means seated upon said shoulder, a platform carried by said resilient means and providing a substantially horizontal plane supporting surface,

and a machine-locating block releasably secured upon said platform for adjustment in a direction parallel to the plane surface of said platform.

8. A machine support comprising an outer casing formed with an internal shoulder, resilient means seated upon said shoulder, a platform carried by said resilient means and providing a substantially horizontal machine-supporting surface, and a crescent-shaped block slidably disposed on the plane surface of said-platform and adjustably secured thereto for the corner support and positioning of the machine carried by said platform.

9. A machine support comprising an outer casing formed with an internal shoulder, resilient means seated upon said shoulder, a platform carried by said resilient means and providing a substantially horizontal plane machine-supporting surface, and a block adjustably secured on the plane surface of said platform and formed with a re-entrant curved and inclined edge surface adapted to receive and locate therein a portion of the machine to be supported.

ARTHUR N. HALE. 

